Display table

ABSTRACT

A display table is provided having a table top with a top surface to receive articles to be displayed and a front face of substantial vertical depth containing an elongated recess substantially parallel to the top surface and a rigid elongated generally U-shaped member inlaid in said recess and adapted to anchor one end of a top surface partition and to receive a ticket holder. In a preferred embodiment, the leg of said U-shaped member next to said top surface contains a section, the outer surface of which extends downwardly and inwardly and then upwardly to form a second recess within said member, which, in combination with a partition anchor or ticket holder, increases resistance to tampering. A novel type of ticket holder is adapted to be snapped into said front face of said table top. The top of the table can also contain a recessed channel member extending parallel to the front face of the table and having a lip whereby partition members having resilient clips thereon can be snapped into engagement on one side with said lip of said channel member and on the other side with said U-shaped member.

United States Patent 1 [4 1 Aug. 20, 1974 Madey 1 DISPLAY TABLE [75] Inventor: Marion J. Madey, Park Ridge, 111. [73] Assignee: Poster Products, Inc., Chicago, Ill. [22] Filed: Aug. 21, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 282,456

[52] US. Cl. 108/61 [51] Int. Cl A47b 57/00 [58] Field of Search 108/28, 135; 211/86, 184;

References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 6/1917 l/1922 2/1930 12/1949 8/1958 11/1959 3/1966 3/1967 l/197l Primary E xaminerPaul R. Gilliam Assistant Examiner-G. O. Finch Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Johnson, Keil, Thompson & Shurtleff [5 7] ABSTRACT A display table is provided having a table top with a top surface to receive articles to be displayed and a front face of substantial vertical depth containing an elongated recess substantially parallel to the top surface and a rigid elongated generally U-shaped member inlaid in said recess and adapted to anchor one end of a top surface partition and to receive a ticket holder. In a preferred embodiment, the leg of said U-shaped member next to said top surface contains a section, the outer surface of which extends downwardly and inwardly and then upwardly to form a second recess within said member, which, in combination with a partition anchor or ticket holder, increases resistance to tampering. A novel type of ticket holder is adapted to be snapped into said front face of said table top. The top of the table can also contain a recessed channel member extending parallel to the front face of the table and having a lip whereby partition members having resilient clips thereon can be snapped into engagement on one side with said lip of said channel member and on the other side with said U-shaped member.

3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PAIENTED slmzurz BACKGROUND It is known in the art to make table structures adapted to be used for displaying merchandise but there is a need to simplify such structures and reduce the costs of making them. There is also a need for table structures on which merchandise can be displayed and separated by means of dividers which are readily movable by store operating personnel but not by customers or children. Table structures containing dividers or partitions on the top thereof which are movable are known and have been in use for some time but there is a need to simplify such structures and provide means for preventing customers or children from readily removing such dividers or partitions. There is also a need for holders for price tags or other printed matter which can be readily applied to merchandise display tables but are not readily removed by customers or children.

OBJECTS One of the objects of this invention is to provide a new and simplified table which can be readily assembled and is especially useful in stores and showrooms.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved table made from resin coated plywood or similar sheet material.

Another object is to provide new and improved holders for price tags or other printed matter adapted to be readily applied to a table of the type described but not easily removed by customers or children.

An additional object is to provide a unique table which is adapted to receive dividers or partitions on the top thereof so as to permit the separation of goods or articles to be displayed thereon.

Still a further object is to provide a table of the type described having a unique top construction and a front face especially adapted to receive a holder for a price tag or other printed matter relative to the goods to be displayed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a display table containing dividers and/or ticket holders combined with the top of said table and readily removable therefrom by an experienced person but removable only with difficulty by an inexperienced person.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

THE DRAWINGS In the drawings FIG. 1 is a perspective view generally illustrating one FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a holder for a ticket or the like adapted to be used in combination with the tables illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In its broader aspects, the invention provides a display table comprising a table top having a top surface to receive articles to be displayed, a front face of sub stantial vertical depth, an elongated recess in said front to face substantially parallel to said top surface, and a rigid generally U-shaped member inlaid in said recess in said front face with the central part of the U disposed inwardly a substantial distance from said front face, the legs of the U generally parallel to said top surface, the open part of the U facing in the direction of said front face, and the outer end of the leg of said U next to said top surface spaced therefrom to provide a substantially vertical area on said front face between said end of said leg and said top surface.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the leg of said U next to said top surface contains a section, the outer surface of which extends inwardly and then upwardly to form a second recess within said U-shaped member whereby dividers or partitions and/or ticket holders, or the like, of the type hereinafter described can be held in place while resisting tampering or attempts to remove them by inexperienced persons.

The tables provided in accordance with the invention also contain one or more elongated recessed channel members in the table top spaced from the front face of the table top, extending parallel thereto and providing a lip extending along said channel member whereby partition members having resilient clips thereon can be snapped into engagement on one side with the lip of said channel member and on the other side with said U-shaped member in the front face of the table top.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the drawings, the table 1 illustrated in FIG. 1, has a top surface 2 to receive articles to be displayed and a rigid, generally U-shaped member 3 inlaid in a recess in the front face 4 with the central part of the U disposed inwardly a substantial distance from said front face, the legs of the U generally parallel to said top surface, the open part of the U facing in the direction of said front face, and the outer end of the leg of said U next to said top surface spaced therefrom to provide a substantially vertical area 5 on said front face between said end of said leg and said top surface. An elongated recessed channel member 6 is disposed in the table top spaced from the front face of the table top, extending parallel thereto, and providing a lip 7 extending along said channel member whereby partition members having resilient clips thereon can be snapped into engagement on one side with the lip of said channel member and on the other side with said U-shaped member in the front face of the table top as more fully described here- I.

inafter.

As shown, a holder 8 for a price tag or other printed 7 information of the type shown in FIG. 6 is snapped into place between the top surface of the table and said U- shaped member in the front face of the table. Details I surfaces 10 and 11. The front face 12 contains a rigid generally U-shaped member 13 inlaid in a recess in said front face. The table top also contains two inlaid elongated recessed channel members 14 and 15 which are spaced from one another by an area 16. The channel member 14 has an inwardly extending lip 17 and the channel member 15 has an inwardly extending lip 18. The face of the table opposite face 12 contains an inlaid rigid generally U-shaped member similar to member 13. One or more partition members 19 are provided opposing resilient clips 20 and 21 can be snapped into place between lip 18 of channel member 15 and the U-shaped member 13 as shown in FIG. 2. Similarly one or more dividers or partition members 22 each having a resilient clip 23 and 24 can be snapped into place on the surface 11 between lip 17 of channel member 14 and the opposing U-shaped member, not shown, which is similar in structure to member 13.

In this table structure additional display areas are provided by a superstructure mounted in the space 16 between elongated channel members 14 and 15, said superstructure comprising two upright pillars 25 and 26 and a connecting horizontal member 27. The pillars 25 and 26 can be provided with slots or apertures, not shown, which are spaced vertically and permit the insertion of various types of horizontally extending supports or hangers, not shown. These can be used to display various types of merchandise.

In a preferred type of table structure illustrated in FIG. 3 which is a cross section taken through the center of FIG. 1 from front to back, a panel 28 made of plywood, particle board, or the like, is mounted on front and back members 29 and 30 which are also made of plywood or particle board and the said members 28, 29 and 30 are secured to supporting members 31 and 32 by gluing, stapling or in any other suitable manner. The members 28, 29 and 30 are usually three-fourths inch in thickness and the members 31 and 32 are usually 1 inch by 1 inch but these dimensions are subject to variation. The inner bottom portions of members 29 and 30 are recessed to receive a bottom member 33 which is usually constructed of plywood or some other suitable material. In order to prevent scuffing and also to reinforce the top portion of the table, extruded elongated T-shaped members 34 and 35 are secured to the bottom portions of members 29 and 30, respectively. The members 34 and 35 which are usually referred to as scuff bars are preferably made from an extruded metal such as aluminum but can also be made from any other rigid material, preferably one which is capable of extrusion. The entire outer surface of the top portion of the table, including the top surface, the front face, the back face, and the sides, is preferably coated with a resin coating such as, for example, melamine formaldehyde or urea-formaldehyde resin (e.g., Formica) which is usually about 0.3 inch to 0.6 inch in thickness.

The upper member 28 is recessed at 36 to receive elongated channel member 37 which corresponds to channel member 6 in FIG. 1. The front edge of member 28 is recessed at 38 to receive U-shaped member 39 which is preferably made from extruded aluminum but can be formed from another material such as a rigid plastic material preferably one which is capable of being extruded or molded. The member 39 corresponds to member 3 in FIG. 1.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention as shown in FIG. 3, the leg of the U-shaped member 39 next to the top surface of thetable contains a section, the outer surface 40 of which extends downwardly and inwardly and then upwardly to form a recess 41.

A feature of the invention is the provision in combination with a display table of the type described of a unique holder for a price tag or other material in sheet form used in connection with the display of articles on said table. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6 the holder 8, which is preferably made from a resilient transparent molded plastic material, has a vertically disposed section 42, a resilient lower section 43 extending inwardly at 44 and then upwardly at 45, an intermediate section 46 extending inwardly from said vertically disposed section, said intermediate section having an upwardly projecting portion 47, and an upper section 48 extending upwardly and inwardly from said vertically disposed section 42 and preferably having a downwardly projecting portion 49. As shown in cross section in FIG. 3, a price tag 50 or other material in sheet form can be placed in said holder and is held in place between the upper edge 51 of upwardly projecting portion 47 and the inner side of said upwardly and inwardly extending section 48. The downwardly extending portion or lip 49 prevents upward displacement of the price tag or other material 50. However, if the price tag or other material 50 is larger and extends beyond the confines of the upper section 48 of the holder, the lip 49 will also assist in clamping this material in the holder. The holder 8 snaps into place with the inner side of the vertically disposed section 42 engaging the outer surface 5 of the front face of the table top, with the underside of the intermediate section 46 of the holder engaging the top surface of the table, the upper side of the lower section 44 engaging the surface 40 of U-shaped member 39 and the upwardly projecting portion 45 of the holder engaging the sides of the recessed portion 41 of the U- shaped member 39, so that the holder is clamped to the table top and cannot be readily removed by inexperienced persons.

Where a partition or dividing member such as members l9 and 22 in FIG. 2 is used, it is equipped with a pair of clamping members 52 and 53 as shown in FIG. 5. Each of these clamping members is resilient and is made from either spring metal or a resilient extruded or molded plastic material. Each of the clamping members 52 and 53 has a vertically disposed section 54, an upper section 55 extending inwardly from said vertically disposed section, and a lower section 56 extending downwardly and inwardly so that one of the clamping members 52 can be snapped into place in the U- shaped menber inlaid in the recess in the front face of the table as shown at 13 in FIG- 2, and the other can be snapped into place in the channel member in the table top spaced from the front face of the table top and extending parallel thereto as shown at 15 or 14 in FIG. 2.

The structure of the table illustrated in an enlarged cross section in FIG. 4 is substantially the same as the structure shown in FIG. 3 except that it is shown with a partition member rather than a price tag holder and the table top structure contains two channel members 14 and 15 as in FIG. 2, as well as a vertical superstructure including pillar 26. Both types of tables preferably contain a resin coating 57 which extends over the top, front, back and side surfaces of the table top. The legs can be applied to the table in any conventional manner. Thus, in the structure shown in FIG. 3, leg 58 is welded or otherwise secured to metal plate 59 which is bolted by bolts 60 and 61 to under panel 33. The other legs are similarly applied. Any other type of leg structure can be employed.

The invention provides a new and simplified table which can be readily assembled and is especially useful in stores and showrooms. It also provides a new and improved table made from resin coated plywood or similar sheet materials. In addition it provides new and improved holders for price tags or other printed matter adapted to be readily applied to a table of the type described but not easily removed by customers or children. The invention also provides a unique table which is adapted to receive dividers or partitions on the top thereof so as to permit the separation of goods or articles to be displayed thereon.

The invention also provides a unique type of holder which is adapted to be clamped to a flat surface having a recessed face at a right angle thereto. In addition, the invention provides a structure which is versatile in that the same components of the structure can be used to accommodate partitions or dividers and holders for price tags or other materials in sheet form used in connection with the display of articles.

It will be understood that various materials of construction can be used in making the components of the structures described. For example, the partitions or dividers can be made of glass or plastic. The pillars 25 and 26 and the cross member 27 are preferably made from extruded aluminum or other metal but can be made from plastic materials.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. In combination: (a) a merchandise display table comprising a table top having a top surface to receive articles to be displayed, a front face of substantial vertical depth, an elongated recess in said front face substantially parallel to said top surface and a rigid elongated generally U-shaped member inlaid in said recess in said front face with the central part of the U disposed inwardly a substantial distance from said front face, the legs of the U generally parallel to said top surface, the open part of the U facing in the direction of said front face, and the outer end of the leg of said U next to said top surface spaced therefrom to provide a substantially vertical area on said front face between said end of said leg and said top surface, and (b) a holder for a price tag or other material in sheet form, used in connection with the display of articles on said table,-said holder having a vertically disposed section, a resilient lower section extending inwardly from said vertically disposed section, an intermediate section extending inwardly from said vertically disposed section, said intermediate section having an upwardly projecting portion, and an upper section extending upwardly and inwardly above the table top from said vertically disposed section, the underside of said intermediate section engaging the top surface of said table of (a), saidlower section engaging the inner surface of said U-shaped member of (a) so that said holder is clamped to said table top surface and to said U-shaped member, and said price tag or other material in sheet form being held between the upper end of said upwardly projecting portion of said intermediate section of said holder and the underside of said upwardly and inwardly extending upper section of said holder.

2. A combination as claimed in claim 1 in which the leg of said U-shaped member next to the top surface of said table contains a section which extends inwardly and then upwardly to form a second recess within said U-shaped member and said resilient lower section of said holder has an upwardly projecting end which is re ceived by said recess.

3. A combination as claimed in claim 1 in which said upwardly and inwardly extending section of said holder has a downwardly extending lip at the upper end thereof. 

1. In combination: (a) a merchandise display table comprising a table top having a top surface to receive articles to be displayed, a front face of substantial vertical depth, an elongated recess in said front face substantially parallel to said top surface and a rigid elongated generally U-shaped member inlaid in said recess in said front face with the central part of the U disposed inwardly a substantial distance from said front face, the legs of the U generally parallel to said top surface, the open part of the U facing in the direction of said front face, and the outer end of the leg of said U next to said top surface spaced therefrom to provide a substantially vertical area on said front face between said end of said leg and said top surface, and (b) a holder for a price tag or other material in sheet form, used in connection with the display of articles on said table, said holder having a vertically disposed section, a resilient lower section extending inwardly from said vertically disposed section, an intermediate section extending inwardly from said vertically disposed section, said intermediate section having an upwardly projecting portion, and an upper section extending upwardly and inwardly above the table top from said vertically disposed section, the underside of said intermediate section engaging the top surface of said table of (a), said lower section engaging the inner surface of said U-shaped member of (a) so that said holder is clamped to said table top surface and to said U-shaped member, and said price tag or other material in sheet form being held between the upper end of said upwardly projecting portion of said intermediate section of said holder and the underside of said upwardly and inwardly extending upper section of said holder.
 2. A combination as claimed in claim 1 in which the leg of said U-shaped member next to the top surface of said table contains a section which extends inwardly and then upwardly to form a second recess within said U-shaped member and said resilient lower section of said holder has an upwardly projecting end which is received by said recess.
 3. A combination as claimed in claim 1 in which said upwardly and inwardly extending section of said holder has a downwardly extending lip at the upper end thereof. 